Matthew Stone wins Silver in M55 group at ITU Aquathlon World Champs

Matthew Stone, from Striders of Croydon, did very well to win a silver medal in the M55 age-group in the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Denmark on Thursday. He was in eighth place at the end of the one-kilometre swim, but covered the five-kilometre run in 18 minutes 14 seconds to gain six places and finish only 13 seconds behind the gold medallist, Erik Heinssen of Germany.

Striders’ men did very well to place third out of eight clubs in their final Southern Veterans League match of the season, at Kingsmeadow on Monday. They also finished third in the final league table. Paul Cripps did very well to win the M50 100 metres (13.8), high jump (1.50) and long jump (4.53). Jon Dean was second in the M60 high jump in a new club age-group record of 1 metre 30. There were also second places for Steve Massey in the M50 400 metres (65.1) and Bob Ewen in the M50 2000 metre walk (12:35.3). For Striders’ women, Rachel Lindley had an outstanding run to win the W35 1500 metres in a new club women’s record of 5 minutes 10.7 seconds. She also placed third in the W35 400 metres in a new club age-group record of 68.8 seconds. Sandra Francis set club W60 records in the 2000 metre walk (14:28.4) and discus (10.00), finishing third in both events. Striders’ women were fifth in the match and sixth in the final league table.

Krzysztof Klidzia ran well to finish third in the over-50 category, and 27th overall, in the Elmore 7-mile road race at Chipstead on Saturday, recording 43 minutes 34. Simon Webster was 89th (49:47), Andrew Pickering 103rd (50:41) and Lyes Fridi 112nd (51:57). Striders’ women were led by Niamh Vincent who was the 24th woman to finish (52:20). Steph Upton was 28th (54:03), Selena Wong 43rd (57:19), Susanna Lutman 47th (59:02) and Yasmin Anderson 54th (60:38).

On Sunday (22nd) Striders will be competing in the Elmbridge 10-kilometre road race, which is the penultimate event in this year’s Surrey Road League.